Mingham



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

O. R. GORMAN & G. J. FLETCHER. STEERING DEVICE FOR PERAMBULATORS.

No. 377,102. Patented Jan. 81. 1888.

WITNESSES. l/VVENTOHS 77% 8%: K m MM N4 PETERS. Phulo-L'rlhognpher. washi nnnnnnn C.

(No Model. 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. R. GORMAN & O. J. FLETCHER. STEERING DEVICE FOR PERAMBULATORS.

No. 377,102. Patented Jan. 31, 1888.

WITNESSES. IIVVENTORS.

41M M 79% -MW% Pholo-Liflloguphnr. Washlngivn. n. c.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

O. R. GORMAN & G. J. FLETCHER. STEERING DEVICE FOR PERAMBULATORS.

No. 377,102. Patented Jan. 31, 1888.

UNrTEn grates CHARLES RICHARD GORMAN AND CHARLES JOSEPH FLETCHER, OF BIR- MINGHAM, COUNTY OF -WARXVICK, ENGLAND.

STEERING DEVICE FOR PERAMBULATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 377,102., dated January 31, 1888.

Application filed May 31, 1897.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES RICHARD German and CHARLES JosEPH FLEToHER, subjects of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, both residing at Birmingham, in the county of \Varwick, England, have invented certain new and useful Improved Means for Steering Perambulators, Invalids \Vheeled Chairs, and other like Carriages, of which the following is a specification. The first part of our invention of improvements in perambulators, invalids wheeled chairs, and other like carriages has reference to improved means for steering such carriages. YVe will first describe this part of our invention as applied to an ordinary four-wheeled perambnlator, the wheels of which, when in motion, rotate in parallel planes, as their axles are connected parallel to each other. WVhen it is desired to move such a perambulator around a curve, either the front or the back wheels have to be raised off the ground. By our invention such a perambulator can be moved and etfectually steered around a curve without raisingthewheelsoff theground. This we accomplish by arranging for the front axle to be capable of being turned by the propellinghandle and inclined toward the back axle, as may be required, thereby allowing of the perambulator being moved around a curve with out raising the wheels.

On the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents in front elevation, and Fig. 2 in side elevation, a four-wheeled perambulator with our invention applied. Figs. 3 and 4 are plans ofthe same, the body ofthe perambulator and the front part of the under frame and the top parts of the guides or quadrants having been removed in order to more clearly illustrate the action of the steering mechanism, as hereinafter more fully described. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the guides of the same, separately on an enlarged scale; and Fig. 6 is a plan, and Fig. 7 an end elevation, of the front wheels and curved guides of the same on an enlarged scale. Figs. 7*, 7 7** represent details of the handle. Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and represent modifications.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

a is the body of the peranlbulator.

Serial No. 239,867.

(No model.)

b b are the back wheels revolving axle c.

d d are the front wheels revolving on the axle e, andf is the ordinary under frame conmeeting the axles c e to the body a. The front axle, e, is carried by curved guides or quadrants g g, fixed by bolts h h to the under frame, f, and connected together by the cross-bars g 9". Free to turn on the axle e are two rollers or slide-blocks,it',whieh are grooved or flanged to suit the guides or quadrants g g, which latter l are made ofa similar shape, so as to prevent the axle 0 moving endwise. The quadrants g g each form part of a circle of which a point, j, equidistant between the wheels (I d, is the center.

k k are two connecting rods, which are jointed at It 70 to a lever, Z, which is fixed at its center to a handle-shaft, m, extending upward and free to turn in bearings n a, fixed to the body a, or otherwise supported therefrom, and having an ordinary perambulator-handlc atits upper end. By turning the handleshaft m, forinstance, toward the left-hand, (seeFig. 3,) a similar turning motion is by the rods k k transmitted from the leverl to the front axle, e, which, with its wheels, is correspondingly turned and the perambulator steered toward the left hand. By turning the handle in the opposite direction the axle c will be turned in the opposite direction also, and the perambulator steered toward the right hand.

In order that the perambulator may be automatically steered in a straight line or comparatively straight line without requiring attention 011 the part of the attendant, we pro vide on the handleshaft m a cam, w, having at each side a V-shaped projecting part, 10, which, when the front axle, e, is in its normal position parallel to the back axle, (see Figs. 2, 4, and 7 3) fit in V-shaped recesses 02 in the upper bracket, n, where they are maintained by the spiral spring :12, which presses the handle-shaft downwardly. When the handleshaft m is turned on its axis to steer the perambulator to the right or left hand, (see Figs. 3 and 7 either one or other of the inclined sides of the V-shaped projection to acts upon the said projection and compresses the spring :0, which latter, when the handle is released, causes the V-shaped projection to to regain on the its normal position in the recess a and the perambulator to be automatically steered in a straight line.

The steering apparatus above described, by

means of which the front wheels can be caused der frame,f, or to the body of the perambulator, the rods k 70 being pivoted thereto, as above described; and instead of the leverZ at the bottom of the handle shaft m, for transmitting motion therefrom to the axle e, a spurpinion, 19, maybe employed, (see plan, Fig. 10, and sectional end elevation, Fig. 11,) gearing into two racks, 70 15 formed, respectively, on the connectingrods k it, suitable guides,qq, fixed to the under frame, f, being provided for the racks to work in, so as to keepv them in gear with the pinion p,- or, as illustrated in plan by Fig. 12, the axle 6 may be carried by a fork, 1", which is pivoted at r to the under frame, and to which the rods 70 k are pivoted at 1" T and it will be evident that although the two connecting-rods 7c 7r makethe best arrangement, still one of them might be dispensed with and the axle e operated by a single rod only.

Other like four-wheeled carriages-such, for instance, as bath-chairs, invalid-carriages, and hand parcel-carts-can be arranged to be steered from behind similarly as above described,and as illustrated by Figs. 1 to 12, both inclusive, with reference to a four-wheeled perambulator,such alterations only being necessary in the Shape and arrangement of the parts as will adapt them to the particular carriage with which they are used.

As a modification of this part of our invention the front axle of the perambulator or other like carriage may be fixed and. the back axle arranged to turn by the back handle similarly as above described with reference to the front axle. This modification may be carried out as illustrated in side elevation by Fig. 13 and in back elevation by Fig. 14 and by Fig.- 15, which latter shows in plan and elevation the lever at the bottom part of the handle separately. This perambulator is similar in all respects to that above described and illustrated by Figs. 1 to 7 ***,both inclusive,except that it is turned round end for end, the large wheels being at the front and the handleshaft at being fixed directly over the moving axle e, the rods k is being dispensed with, the

motion of the lever Z being transmitted to the axle e by two pins, 8 s, which are fixed to the axle e and engage in slotted holes Z Z in the lever Z.

In conclusion, we wish it to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise details herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as the same may be varied without departing from the nature of our invention; but,

Having now particularly described and as certained the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is- 1. The combination, in a perambulator, of quadrant guides held in a suitable frame, the front axle resting on said quadrant and guided thereby, and operating-handles, and connections between the handles and the axle for steering the vehicle, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a perambulator, of front guiding-wheels mounted on a pivoted axle, connectionsto a steering-liandle, and a spring-clutch for returning the handle-bar and axle to their normal positions parallel with the fixed axle, so as to automatically steer the perambulator in a straight line.

In testimony whereof we have each signed in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES RICHARD GORMAN.

CHARLES JOSEPH FLETCHER.

\Vitnesses:

CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY, WILLIAM CHARLES BATTEN. 

